Air Force orders more radar updates from Lockheed Martin

Submitted photoRemote early warning radar sites, including 15 in Alaska and 11 in Canada, are being updated under a contract awarded to Lockheed Martin last year. Thursday, the Air Force announced the contract was being expanded and work would continue for Lockheed's Salina facility into 2016.

Salina, NY -- Lockheed Martin employees from Salina will be working on some of the most remotely located radar systems operated by the U.S. Air Force.

The Department of Defense announced Thursday that it had issued a $26.2 million contract to Lockheed to expand work on advanced warning radars in Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Utah.

Last year, the Air Force announced it was spending $46.8 million on replacing parts on the 29 AN/FPS-117 long-range radars that are part of the service's Atmospheric Early Warning System.

That work was to include engineering planning and beginning upgrades on the remotely operated devices.

The work announced in 2011 was to last into 2014. The work announced Thursday is expected to last until mid-2016.

Lockheed will eventually replace and update all the radars' signal and data processors to current commercial technology standards, extending their operational lives thru 2025, the company said.